Tolaji Bola has completed a permanent transfer to Rotherham United from Arsenal on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Tolaji Bola (Photo via Instagram / TolajiBola)
Tolaji Bola (Photo via Instagram / TolajiBola)

Arsenal and Rotherham United have confirmed the permanent transfer of Tolaji Bola between the two clubs this summer. According to Rotherham’s article, Bola is joining on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Earlier in the summer, left-back Bola had held a trial with Sheffield Wednesday, featuring in multiple friendlies and playing in central defence. But it didn’t lead to a signing in the end. Rotherham’s post suggests they intend to use Bola in his natural position on the left.

There’s no doubt the defender needed a move, given Arsenal didn’t integrate him into the side even when they had serious problems at left-back over the last season or two. They preferred to use midfielders like Granit Xhaka or right-backs like Cedric Soares to fill in.

Joel Lopez is over three years younger than Bola, and not particularly close to the senior team himself, yet he made the Europa League squad ahead of Bola in April. The writing really was on the wall at this point.

Bola will now have a chance to show what he can do, with a club where he’ll hopefully be a regular. Rotherham have been up and down between League One and the Championships in recent seasons, so he’ll be aiming to get them back up to the second tier and keep them there.